PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Buvaisar Saitiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ove Stenmark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saitiev comes to the cage accompanied by Gimme Shelter Rolling stones. Ove Stenmark has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Buvaisar Saitiev's chin.

Saitiev
vs
Stenmark

155 cm
25
184 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

189 cm
25
180 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Buvaisar Saitiev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ove Stenmark!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saitiev looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Stenmark!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stenmark tries to reverse the position but Saitiev maintains control.
Stenmark is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Saitiev looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Stenmark tries to hold on but Saitiev postures up.
Saitiev with shots to the head and body - Stenmark looks very uncomfortable down there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stenmark slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Stenmark wants to get back to full guard.

Stenmark is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Saitiev pulls his head out easily.
Saitiev trying to control the action but Stenmark is working from the bottom.
Stenmark gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saitiev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stenmark swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Saitiev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Saitiev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Saitiev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stenmark is keeping the position for now.

Stenmark is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Saitiev defends well.
Stenmark is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Saitiev slips nicely into half guard.
Stenmark is looking to improve his position.
Stenmark manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Saitiev looking to pass the guard.

Stenmark looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Saitiev got a little sloppy there for a moment and Stenmark has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Saitiev has managed to get both his arms back between Stenmark's legs - danger averted.
Saitiev postures up and lands a big shot to Stenmark's brow.
Saitiev throws and elbow that misses. Stenmark uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Saitiev's guard. Nice move by Stenmark!
Saitiev keeping moving, preventing Stenmark from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stenmark trying to move into half guard but instead Saitiev has managed to sweep!
Stenmark is trying to keep Saitiev in close.
Stenmark keeping moving, preventing Saitiev from controlling successfully.
Saitiev cracks Stenmark with a solid left hand.

Stenmark has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Saitiev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Saitiev wants to control from the top but Stenmark keeps moving.

Stenmark throws his legs up looking for a submission but Saitiev uses it to pass to side control.
Stenmark taking a bit of punishment here - Saitiev scoring with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stenmark dodges the ground and pound from Saitiev.
Stenmark is looking to regain half guard here but Saitiev keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Stenmark's face as Saitiev controls the position.
Saitiev wants to control but Stenmark is keeping him busy.
Stenmark sneaks back into half guard.
Stenmark trying to control from the bottom.
Stenmark gets full guard.
Stenmark looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Saitiev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stenmark trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buvaisar Saitiev dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Saitiev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Saitiev drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Stenmark is trying to improve his position.
Saitiev lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Stenmark down.
Saitiev working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Stenmark struggling a bit here.
Stenmark is looking to regain half guard here but Saitiev keeps moving and retains side control.
Stenmark gets back to half guard.
Stenmark trying to control from the bottom.
Saitiev is nestled in close to Stenmark, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stenmark is trying to maintain the position but Saitiev is very close to passing his half guard.

Stenmark is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Saitiev pulls his head out easily.
Stenmark is breathing heavily.
Saitiev is trying to control. Stenmark wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stenmark wants to improve his position but Saitiev is controlling well.
Stenmark trying to control here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Saitiev lands a nice short elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Stenmark is looking to control Saitiev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Stenmark avoid being mounted?
Stenmark is looking for a sweep. Saitiev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Saitiev working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stenmark manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Stenmark manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Saitiev manages to get himself to full guard.
Stenmark wants to control from the top but Saitiev keeps moving.
Stenmark trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stenmark trying to control the position from guard on top but Saitiev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stenmark trying to move into half guard but instead Saitiev has managed to sweep!
Saitiev cracks Stenmark with a solid left hand.
Stenmark looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Stenmark not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stenmark is looking to sweep but instead, Saitiev has passed into half guard.
Saitiev winds up and cracks Stenmark with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Saitiev not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Stenmark has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Saitiev is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saitiev seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Stenmark is staying active underneath Saitiev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Saitiev is controlling the pace.
Saitiev slips a nice elbow through Stenmark's hands, connecting with Stenmark's forehead.
Stenmark is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Saitiev's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Saitiev's back!
Saitiev is keeping busy.
Saitiev is really stuck here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buvaisar Saitiev dominated that second round.
That's time! Saitiev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Saitiev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stenmark ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Saitiev moves away.
Stenmark lands a jab to the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stenmark. Saitiev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stenmark digs a good hook to Saitiev's body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Saitiev is defended easily by Stenmark.
Stenmark scores with a jab to the body.

Saitiev bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Stenmark is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Saitiev off and has taken his back!

Stenmark is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Saitiev defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Saitiev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Stenmark working for a choke but Saitiev is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Will Stenmark go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saitiev defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Stenmark working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Stenmark looking for the choke but no joy.
Saitiev tries to escape but Stenmark has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Stenmark is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Saitiev knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Saitiev for a finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stenmark looking to hold on to the position here but Saitiev rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Stenmark trying to control the position from guard on top but Saitiev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saitiev controls Stenmark momentarily but Stenmark frees himself.
Stenmark looking to sit in guard and control but Saitiev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stenmark keeping moving, preventing Saitiev from controlling successfully.
Stenmark is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Saitiev trying to control but Stenmark is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Stenmark looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Saitiev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ove Stenmark has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Buvaisar Saitiev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Stenmark throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ove Stenmark comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Saitiev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buvaisar Saitiev!